Mgr. Michael Bibi handing certificate to trained Psycho-Clinical Technician
The ongoing Anglophone crisis in Cameroon has exacerbated the need for mental health services in the country. The conflict, which began in 2016, has led to widespread displacement, violence, and trauma, affecting millions of people. Despite this, mental health services remain scarce, particularly in the Northwest and Southwest Regions where the majority of those in need are located.
In response to this growing concern, St. Joseph Oasis in Tiko has emerged as a beacon of hope. This centre, instituted by the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus under the Diocese of Buea, has trained and sent out the first batch of trained experts in mental health and trauma healing. Alongside training the experts, the centre has also taken in some vulnerable children affected by the crisis, who have also received mental health support and have also been trained on some income generation activities like the production of natural fruit juices.
Six Psychosocial Technicians Graduate from St. Joseph Oasis
On 19 December 2024, St. Joseph Oasis celebrated a milestone with the graduation of six psychosocial technicians. The ceremony, which coincided with the official opening of a shelter for girls, marked a significant step towards addressing the mental health needs of the community, not only within Buea Diocese but in the Bamenda Ecclesiastical province, which includes all dioceses within the Northwest and Southwest regions. The new centre according to the sisters, will also serve as a Behavioural Health Centre and a shelter for internally displaced girls and women, alongside providing essential occupational therapy services.
The event commenced with a Pontifical Mass, officiated by the Bishop of Buea, Mgr. Michael Bibi. In his homily, Bishop Bibi congratulated the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus for establishing the centre, which he described as a “gift to the Diocese of Buea and the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province.”
Bishop Bibi encouraged the Director of the centre, Rev. Sr. Jacky Atabong and her team to remain passionate about their work, emphasising the importance of providing hope and support to those affected by mental health issues and trauma. He challenged the graduates to be “instruments of hope” and to bring dignity to those they serve.
The centre’s Founder and Director, Rev. Sr. Jacky Atabong, highlighted the urgent need for mental health services in Cameroon. She explained that St. Joseph Oasis was established in response to the socio-political crisis affecting the Northwest and Southwest Regions. She regretted that in Cameroon, there is a mental health stigma that has largely prevented many from seeking the essential service they badly need.
The centre currently provides a safe haven for 20 vulnerable girls, who receive education and training in skills such as natural juice production. The six graduates, who underwent six months of rigorous training, are equipped with knowledge on mental health diseases and how to support individuals in need.
As Cameroon continues to grapple with the challenges of the Anglophone crisis, initiatives like St. Joseph Oasis offer a beacon of hope. By providing mental health services and support, this centre is helping to address a critical need in the community that has for a lifetime not had any infrastructure that supports and cater for locals’ mental health.
From January this year, the centre will introduce additional training programmes to produce more Psycho-Clinical Technicians to meet the growing mental health needs within schools and communities.
